Deschutes Forest Winter Activity

Deschutes Forest Winter Restoration Activity

Forest restoration activity has been a bit quiet this winter but with snow beginning to melt and roads clearing, crews will be returning to their restoration work in the Deschutes National Forest soon! Be on the lookout over the next few weeks for managed pile burning near Bend and for logging equipment/activity to resume. We'll keep you updated as more details are released.

Update February 20, 2017

The closure map below has been the updated to include the Lava Island road as restoration and logging crews have moved over to the last unit along the river! Current closures include the Big Eddy, Lava Island, and Aspen Trail Head roads. (Road numbers 700, 750, 752, 800, 870) Please see the map below for more details:

Update February 8, 2017

As of February 9, 2017, logging will begin in Units 63 and 64 of the Yen Stewardship area in the Deschutes National Forest. These units are located near the Deschutes River off of the 752 Road (green gate) Big Eddy turn off. Signs will be posted alerting travelers of the closure until the work has been completed.

Update February 6, 2017

Pile burning has wrapped up for now but GIS specialists and fire crews are in the field this week, flagging and tagging the boundaries for treatment units in preparation for upcoming restoration work this spring.

Update February 3, 2017

Photos from this week's pile burning during the West Bend Project forest restoration work. Ignitions were easy due to dry fuels in the piles but travel to the piles required the use of snow shoes!

Pile prepared for burning. These piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with previous vegetation management activities intended to remove hazardous fuels that can burn during summer wildfires.

2 minutes after ignition.

5 minutes after ignition.

10 minutes after ignition.

15 minutes after ignition.

20 minutes after ignition.

40 minutes after ignition. Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition but remain monitored by firefighters until they are declared out.